## Teen Without Licence Crashes into House While High, Sentenced for String of Offences
A 19-year-old from Porth has been sentenced to five years in a young offenders’ institution after a series of dangerous actions, including crashing a car into a house while under the influence of drugs and carrying out a violent attack on a stranger. Josh Wilcox, whose criminal record dates back to his early teens, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court after being convicted of a series of serious offences.
Wilcox’s most recent offences occurred in July 2024, when he drove a car—despite never having received any formal driving instruction or holding a licence—under the influence of drugs. The reckless journey ended when he lost control of the vehicle, crashing it into a residential property, causing significant injury to his then-girlfriend who was a passenger in the car. This incident left the young woman temporarily confined to a wheelchair and required her to relearn how to walk.
The court was told that Wilcox did not have insurance and was driving illegally at the time of the crash. The emotional scars of the incident were highlighted through a victim statement read out in court, in which Wilcox’s ex-partner detailed the trauma she continues to endure, including nightmares and ongoing mental and physical difficulties.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins, presiding over the case, emphasised the gravity of Wilcox’s actions both as an unlicensed, uninsured driver and as someone under the influence of drugs, combining to cause significant harm. Judge Jenkins commented: “You had no legal right to be behind the wheel, yet you still put others at risk, with devastating consequences.”
The sentencing was further compounded by an earlier serious assault involving a stranger. In December 2022, Wilcox attacked Stacey Young as she visited a friend’s home in Aberavon. Without provocation, Wilcox struck Ms Young with a bladed knuckle duster, causing injuries that included a head wound, a lacerated mouth and the loss of several teeth. Ms Young’s statement spoke of the profound and lasting impact the assault had on her wellbeing, describing an increased sense of vulnerability and the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Young said: “Since the attack, my life has been turned upside down. I feel constantly vulnerable and defenceless. The incident haunts me daily, and I have turned to alcohol to try and cope.”
The court also heard arguments in mitigation from Wilcox’s defence barrister, Kathryn Lane, who said that the defendant’s history as a child involved significant engagement with children’s services, dating back to the age of two. Lane argued that Wilcox’s troubled upbringing and lack of guidance had contributed to his persistent offending, and she relayed his stated remorse and shame for his actions, particularly the harm caused to his then-girlfriend.
Despite Wilcox pleading guilty to several charges, including aggravated vehicle taking and wounding with intent, he initially denied causing serious injury by careless driving. However, a jury at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court found him guilty in March of this year. The court documents also revealed that Wilcox had been in breach of a community order issued in August 2024 relating to separate burglary and theft offences.
Wilcox’s previous convictions—19 offences in total, dating back to 2019—underlined for the court the persistent pattern of offending that marked his teenage years. Judge Jenkins handed down a cumulative sentence that reflected both the seriousness of the recent offences and the breech of existing court orders.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Wilcox has been disqualified from driving for four years and six months, and a restraining order was issued to protect Stacey Young for a period of five years. The judge’s remarks underscored the need to protect the public and provide a measure of justice for the victims affected.
This case further highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed and impaired drivers, as well as the far-reaching consequences of violent assaults. The outcomes for Wilcox’s victims emphasise the long road to recovery many face following such traumatic events, both physically and emotionally.